You, as a coach, reflect your players, and your players reflect you. FA coach development officer, Sam Griffiths, shares why this is and how this dynamic has come into play in her coaching journey. In this episode, we dive into Sam’s story so far and hear her advice for new coaches handling the transition from playing to coaching.

Sam inspires more females into coaching as part of the women and girls’ team for the East Midlands. She started playing football as a child before being scouted for the local centre of excellence. Since then, she’s had a plethora of different experiences, from working with her local council to her role as a head coach. And we learn how these experiences have shaped Sam as a person and a coach.

Sam ultimately transitioned from playing to coaching after suffering an injury. She shares with us the challenges of dealing with being forced to stop playing, and the internal battle of finding an identity as a coach rather than a player. Sam champions honesty with yourself and with others, and she shares how she implements this into her coaching.

In this episode, we cover:

• the skills and attributes that make a transformational coach

• how to balance the need to win with the desire to develop players

• the challenge of showing up for players how they need you to be

• the power of being open to feedback and being honest with yourself

• if coaching her own friends helped or hindered her coaching ability

• how to deal with critical parents on the sidelines

• ‘overcoaching’ and how to avoid it

• the Silent Support Weekend - how it works and its positive impacts

• top tips on developing communication skills

• advice for new coaches on planning sessions.